Electric-arc lamp.



No. 636,875. Patented Nov. l4, I899. E. P. WARNER.

ELECTRIC ARC LAMP.

(Application filed Apr. 1, 1899.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet l.

S 1 zm g z M y L/W 072 9 No. 636,875. Patented Nov. l4, I899. E. P. WARNER.

ELECTBlC ARC LAMP.

(Application filed Apr. 1, 1899.)

4 Sheets$heet 2.

(No Model.)

No. 636,875. Patented Nov..l4, I899. E. P. WARNER.

ELECTRIC ARC-LAMP.

(Application filed Apr. 1, 1899.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

No. 636,875. Patented Nov. l4, I899. E. P. WARNER.

ELECTRIC ABC LAMP.

(Application filed Apr. 1, 1899.

4 Shee tsSheet- 4,

(No Model.)

five/1737 z zesiipw M gnaw W 6. M,

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

ERNEST P. WARNER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

ELECTRIC-ARC LAMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 636,87 5, dated November 14:, 1899.

Application filed April 1, 1899. Serial No. 711,370. (No model.)

T 00% whom it may concern: vation of the feeding and clutch mechanism,

Be it known that I, ERNEST P. WVARNER, a certain parts beings hown in section. Fig. 3

citizen of the United States, residing at Chiis a plan view on line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. t is cago, in the countyof Cook and State of Illia plan view of the tubularguide with the up- 5 nois, have invented a certain new and useful per-carbon clamp in place therein. Fig. 5 is Improvement in Electric-Arc Lamps, (Case a side elevation thereof, the tube being shown No. 67,) of which the following is a full, clear, in section. Fig. 6 is a sectional View of the concise, and exact description. clutch resting upon the feeding-floor. Fig.

My invention may be stated generally as '7 shows the same in position after the carbon IO comprising the following features: The armahas been lifted. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the ture is made ofaluminium and consists of two clutch. Fig. 0 shows the globe in position. rings connected by bars in such a manner as Fig. 10 is a sectional view on line 10 10 of Fig. to leave an opening midway between therings, 9. Figs. 11 and 12 are plan and edge views, which opening accommodates the guide for respectively, of the annular ring-clamp. Fig.

T5 the upper carbon. The clutch I form of two 13 is a diagram illustrative of the circuits.

rings differing in weight, which are pivotally Like parts are indicated by similar letters attached to each other at one side of the carof reference throughoutthe different figures. bon, so that'each of the rings can take an in- The general operation of. the lamp will be dependent grip upon the carbon. In order most clearly understood by reference to Fig.

20 to make the amount of energy sufiicient to se- 13, in which I have shown the mains or supcure an efficient and positive regulation of ply-circuits a Z), between which the lampcis the lamp, I connect the aluminium armature connected. The choke-coil 0 may be of usual with the clutch-lever, so that a portion of the construction and is provided with connecweight of the moving parts-that is, of the tions at different portions of the coils, so that 25 armature and its loadmay be counterbalthe impedance thereof may be adapted to dif anced by means of a Weight. The uppencarferent frequencies of alternations. As indibon clamp, which is attached to the upper cated on the drawings, the wire d from the end of the upper carbon, moves in a tubular lower carbon is connected to include the enguide and at its upper portion is provided tire winding of the coil, as is required when 30 with a washer of non-metallic material for the periods are of low frequencyas, for we the purpose of reducing the vibration and ample, forty or sixty cycles per second. I noise that might otherwise result. This have indicated diagrammatically the cut-out washer I have made of mica, also of certain switch 6, the regulating-magnet f, and the compositions of rubber, so as to prevent mepair of carbons (,includedin proper relations 3 5 tallic contactbetween the clamp and the guide in the circuit.

through which it travels, the washer being The armature It I make preferably of aluslightly smaller than the bore of the tube, so minium, since aluminium has sufficient conthat the carbon may not be impeded by the ductivity and least weight. This armature is guide. The rim of the inclosing globe is enso formed as to make a complete metallic cir- 4o larged and conforms to the annular seat procuit surrounding each of the cores, as shown vided upon the under side of the feeding-floor particularly in Fig. 3. This armature comof the lamp and is held in place by an annuprises two complete electric circuits, a differlar spring-clamp, the clamp being provided ent circuit surrounding each of the cores of with'projecting arms, which are forced under the electromagnet f, these circuits being 45 catches attached to and extending from the placed in such inductix e relation to the magfeeding-floor. net-cores that currents of proper lag will be 5 In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is set up therein to produce the action of repul a front elevation of a lamp, partly in section, sion or the tendency to force the armature to embodying myinvention. Fig. 2isa side ele- 1 ward the tips of the cores. This armature I have shown as consisting of a single casting, the two rings or circuits surrounding the different projecting poles of the electromagnet being rigidly joined together-that is, constituting a single casting. The metal of the casting on either side of the central opening of the armature is preferably provided with a rib, making the connecting-bars between the two rings, which is T-shaped in cross-section to give rigidity with a minimum amount of metal in the bars.

The clutch consists of two rings 2' and 7.:, one ring being of greater weight than the other and the two being pivoted together, so as to permit each ring to engage the carbon to an extent independently of the other. As one of the rings-in this instance 7cis heavier than the other ring 1', any vibrations com m unicated to the rings will affect them differently owing to their difference in fundamen tal. The consequence is that the two rings are not liable to be disengaged or relaxed at the same time on account of vibrations. I thus avoid the well-known trouble which is experienced so frequently when a single clutchring is employed.

The links Z l extend from the upper ring of the clutch to the elutch-leverm, the lever being connected to the armature h by the arms n it. These arms n a are preferably rigidly attached to the armature and pivotally connected with the clutch-lever.

The tube 0, which surrounds the upper carbon and serves as a guide for the upper-carbon clampp, is disposed between the arms 71 n, the clutch-lever m being provided with an opening to accommodate the said tube, so that the lever may be unimpeded, while provision is made for suitably connecting the links Z Z and arms n 7t with the said clutchlever m. The tube 0, as most clearly shown in Fig. 4, is open on one side throughout its length,and through this opening projects a segment of the non-metallic washer q. The metallic washer which is secured to the upper end of the carbon-holder p is provided with an arm by which connection is made through the medium of the flexible cord 7' from the frame of the lamp, so as to afford a sufficient path for the current.

The weight 3 is attached to the projecting end of the clutch-lever m and is made sufficient to counterbalance the greater portion of the armature h and its load. i, which is connected with the clutch-lever, is provided with a valve in the piston, so that the retardation may be only during the upward movement of the piston. The weight 5 is adjusted so that but little if any more than the weight of the upper carbon is required to be lifted and moved by the regulating-magnet at any time in regulating the lamp.

Four pillars u extend upwardly from the feeding-floor of the lamp to form a support for the plate 2;, to which the regulating-magnet is secured. Upon this plate are mounted The dash-pot two downwardly-projecting pins to 20, which pass freely through corresponding openings provided in the armature h, thus preventing any abnormal lateral motion of the armature.

The inclosing globe is enlarged at its opening and for a short distance only from the end thereof, as indicated at a, to provide an upper edge which may be readilyground flat, while at the same time ashoulder is formed, against which the annular spring-clamp b is pressed. The flat surface thus formed fits closely to the surface of the metal plate, against which it is pressed and forms practically an air-tight joint. This construction should not be confounded with one wherein the walls of the globe are thickened to provide an annular shoulder or wherein the edge of the globe at its mouth is turned outwardly to form a flange. With any such construc tion the work of grinding the walls of the globe at its mouth is made very diflicult, because of the great amount of material which must be ground away, and where the wall is thicker in some places than it is in others the glass is very apt to crack when heated. The clamp which I prefer to employ is made of thin resilient material and is adjusted to hold the ground edge of the globe tightly against the under surface of the feeding-floor. If, however, the pressure from the gases within the globe becomes considerable, the resilient clamp will yield, so as to give such vent as may be required. In the drawings, Fig. 1,1 have not shown the portion of the casing which surrounds the clutch mechanism and supports the shade.

I will now briefly describe the operation of my lamp. The lamp being connected in circuit, as illustrated in Fig. 13, and the current established, there will be immediately a repulsion of the armature h, causing the same to move upward and carry with it the clutchlever and clutch to approximately the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. l, and the arc will be established. The first rush of current will be quite strong; but as the carbons are separated and the resistance at the are increased the current will be brought to its normal and approximately constant strength. As the arc persists and the carbons are consumed the armature descending gradually maintains the voltage and current practically constant until the clutch comes against a stop or the floor of the lamp, whereupon, the clutch releasing its hold, the upper carbon slips downwardly, thus effecting the feeding. Immediately after the feeding the armature is moved by the repelling action of the magnet fto the position required to maintain the are at the required Voltage and-current strength. My lamp as thus described is intended for use upon constant-potential circuits of about one hundred and ten volts, the lamps being connected in multiple. hen

the arc is first established, the armature will be repelled upward along the iron cores in the manner described, and the upper carbon being disengaged by the clutch it will be lifted about three-eighths of an inch from its mate and an arc established as they separate. This are will be ordinarily of seventy volts with a current of six amperes. After being thus started the carbons will burn away gradually, and as this takes place the armature will be gradually lowered on the cores, there being at the same time a slight diminution in current until the clutch which holds the upper carbon comes against the plate or floor of the lamp, as previously described, whereupon a slight further decrease in current will cause the upper carbon to be fed downward a slight distance. The clutch once more grasps the carbon, and in case the downward movement should have been more than that required to bring the current to the normal the armature will be raised a sufficient distance to reestablish the voltage and current conditions. The electromagnet-cores are preferably of laminated iron in order to reduce the local currents therein and consequent heating.

It is known in the art that the armature of an electromagnet excited by an alternating current may be so constructed and adjusted as to be repelled. I make use of this princi ple in my lamp in such a way that the feeding movement of the carbons and their regulation is effected directly from the armature. The armature might be made of copper or other good conducting metal; but I have found aluminium best fulfils the conditions, for the reason that it secures a maximum activity with a minimum inertia of the moving parts. The clutch-lever,the dash-pot, the piston, and connections I preferably make of aluminium also, but simply for the purpose of reducing the inertia.

Having now particularly described my said invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an arc-lamp, the regulating-magnetf and the aluminium armature thereof adapted to be repelled when alternating currents traverse the magnet, said armature comprising two rings, one for each of the projecting cores of the electromagnet, the rings being connected together by bars formed integral therewith to leave an opening midway between the rings; in combination with a tubular guide for the upper carbon passing through the said opening, and clutch mechanism directly attached to the armature, the weight of the armature and the moving partscarried thereby being counterbalanced, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In an inclosed alternating arc-lamp, the combination with the regulating magnet thereof,of the armature having different parts thereof surrounding the projecting cores to form circuits of good conductivity about the same, arms a 'n secured to the said armature and pivoted to the clutch mechanism, the carbon and the guide for the same inclosed between the said arms and passing through a central opening in the armature, the uppercarbon clamp 19 and the insulating-washer q, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. The combination with the tubular guide for the movable carbon, of the carbon-clamp 1) provided with the non-metallic washer q adapted to move in the said guide, the guide being provided with a slot through which a portion of the washer (1 projects; the armature 7t having the central opening through which the guide passes, the armature being adapted to be repelled when alternating currents are set up in the coils of the electromagnet thereof, and clutch feeding mechanism attached to the said armature and controlled by the movement thereof, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. The combination with the movable carbon of an electric-arc lamp, of the electromagnetic regulating mechanism thereof controlling the clutch, said clutch consisting of two rings pivoted together, one of said rings being of greater weight than the other, as described, whereby, owing to theirdifference in fundamental,vibrations communicated to the rings will affect them differently, thereby preventing both rings from being disengaged or relaxed at the same time, substantially as described.

5. The double ring clutch consisting of parts 2' and 7t linked together, the upper ring '5 being of less weight than the lower ring 7t, in combination with the feeding-rod of an arclamp, and mechanism for controlling the clutch; whereby, owing to the difference in weight of the two rings, they are not liable to be disengaged or relaxed at the same time on account of vibrations.

6. The globe of an electric-arc lamp enlarged or expanded for a short distance at the opening thereof, the walls of said expanded portion being of substantially the same thickness as the main bodyof the globe, the upper edge of said expanded portion forming the mouth of the globe being ground to a plane, in combination with a thin annular clamp of resilient material pressed against the annular shoulder provided by the enlargement of the globe, and a plate having an annular plane surface against which the edge or end of the globe is pressed by the spring clamp to form a practically air-tight joint, said clamp being adapted to yield to vent the globe when there is undue pressure within, substantially as set forth.

7. The globe of an electric-arc lamp having an annular enlargement or expanded portion, the Walls of said expanded portion being of substantially the same thickness as the main body of the globe, the upper edge of the globe at the mouth thereof being ground to a plane, in combination with a thin annular clamp of resilient material pressed against the annu lar shoulder provided by the enlargement of the globe, and a plate having an annular Inwitness whereoflhereunto subscribe my plane surface against which the ground edge name this 30th day of March, A. D. 1899. of the mouth of the globe is pressed by the spring-clamp to form a practically air-tight 5 joint, said clamp being adapted to yield to Vitnesses:

Vent the globe When there is undue pressure DE XVITT C. TANNER, therein, substantially as set forth. 1 WINFIELD "W. LEACH.

ERNEST P. VARNER. 

